Page 110 of Lucky Shot
“I… I look…” I blink several times, trying to clear my visionagain.“I look pretty,” I whisper. I think it’s the first time in my entire life that I actuallyfeelbeautiful.
“You are,” Demi says quietly, kissing my jaw just under my ear. “The most beautiful, prettiest, most enchanting man I’ve ever seen. And you’re all mine.”
I grip his pant legs and nod. Words fail me, but that’s the only thing I ever want to be. For the rest of my life. His.
THIRTY-THREE
ELIXON
The beginningof August finds us in Chicago waiting at the Amtrak station for a train. My summers typically involve me visiting my family and hanging around with friends from my team, but otherwise, I do very little traveling. My yearly yacht trip with the ‘Gays Can Play’ notwithstanding, of course.
So when I told Pretty that I wanted to make memories with him, I found I was suddenly excited to do just that. I wanted memories. Experiences. Adventures. Things that we’ll remember for our entire lives. When we get old, we can look back on them and smile fondly.
Most of the things we’d done thus far have been close to home. We explored Sunrise and the surrounding areas in Florida. We’ve also traveled to all the places in Edmonton that I never visited, though I always promised myself that I would. Apparently, I just didn’t have the motivation to do so before. I hadn’t had a reason.
I do now.
Pretty is standing in front of me, all jittery and moving around as he stands on his toes to look over heads. The smile on his face hasn’t lessened since we arrived at the station. It’s fucking adorable. With his smile firmly in place, mine hasn’t faded at all.
His hand is resolutely clutching mine, no matter how much he wiggles and dances. Just like his mage in Second World. I grin at the similarities and realize that he was letting his character reflect as much of his own personality as he could in the one place he felt comfortable doing so.
Because he never stands still, I constantly catch a glimpse of the collar he wears that keeps disappearing under his hoodie. It’s the first one I bought him—solid black leather with a heart ring in the front. The fact that he chose to wear it in public makes everything inside me jump with excitement. This is my man. And he’s shouting it to the world in his silent way.
“When are they going to let us on?” Pretty asks for maybe the tenth time.
In front of him, Roux turns around and raises a brow. “You’re like a bouncing child,” he deadpans.
Pretty grins. “I’m excited. How are you not excited?”
“I am excited,” Roux says. Gabe is leaning against the wall, watching Roux with fucking hearts in his eyes, though he’s casual enough with his hands in his pockets. “I’m just acting my age.”
“Well, apparently actingyourage is dull. Act my age,” Pretty answers.
Roux rolls his eyes and turns to face forward again. He leans against his suitcase and scans the heads in front of him before meeting Gabe’s eyes. Yup, casual on the outside, but he’s shit at hiding how he feels.
My brother sighs and faces forward again.
Pretty looks at me, his brows knit together. I kiss his nose. “Be a bouncing toddler all you want, Pretty Boy. It’s adorable.”
“You’re going to make me sick,” Roux mutters.
“Ignore Sour Sally,” I say, causing my brother’s shoulders to shake with his laughter.
Just a few minutes later, we’re finally allowed to board. I planned this trip with Roux because he’ll be heading back to school soon and I wanted him to see something other than the walls of his room, a hotel room, or whatever random soccer field Gabe could find.
It was him that insisted I bring Pretty with me. I think he knew how loathe I was to be away from him, but I also knew that my brother needed me. I made him promise that we’ll do something that only involves the two of us.
We are led to the train car with overnight accommodations. I booked us a double room, which is still only basically seven feet by seven feet. Probably a smidge more, but nothing to write home about. The cabins held two single-person bunks (the bottom becoming a couch when not reclined), a chair, a sink, and a shower, and our two spaces are connected by a door. The best part is the panoramic windows that will show us the sights.
This is a fifteen-day trip with stops in Salt Lake City, Yellowstone National Park, San Francisco, Seattle, Glacier National Park, and then we’ll be dropped back off in Chicago. There are overnight stays at a few of the destinations and we get to explore everything!
“I’m really excited,” Pretty says as we place our luggage in the overhead luggage rack above the single chair.
“I know,” I say, kissing his cheek.
The door between our rooms closes with a smack and I chuckle. My brother doesn’t actually mind. I think he’s playing it up to give us some privacy. But since we are now completely alone, I pull him to my chest and wrap him in my arms. His mouth finds mine right away.
“Do you have any idea how much I love that collar on you?” I ask.
